Robert Jackson Powell Jr.

Robert Jackson Powell Jr., of Washington, NC was born in Whiteville on Jan. 14, 1921 and died Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010. A memorial service was held 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church of Washington officiated by the Rev. Darryl Evans and the Rev. Lee Kinney. The family received friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.
Bob Powell was predeceased by his parents, Robert J. and Elizabeth Toon Powell; and by a sister, Elizabeth Powell Moore.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Catherine Ravenel Gant Powell; son, Robert J. Powell III and wife, Clarine Gatling Pollock Powell, of Greenville; son, Roger Gant Powell Sr. and wife, Anne Bear Powell, of Owings Mills, Md.; daughter, the Rev. Catherine Ravenel Powell of Wilmington; and son, Ronald McMillan Powell and wife, Amy Baribault Powell, of Davidson; grandchildren, Robert J. Powell IV and wife, Peyton, Graham Pollock Powell, John Gatling Powell, Catherine Gant Powell, Anne Powell Taliaferro and husband, Wilson, Roger Gant Powell Jr., Samuel Bear Powell, Elizabeth Toon Parthum, Sarah Ravenel Parthum, Isabelle Kathleen Powell and Rebecca McMillan Powell; great-grandsons, Robert J. Powell V, Gibbon Pender Powell and William Ravenel Powell.
He attended Davidson College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, trained at Paris Island and Quantico and joined the First Marine Division in the Pacific. He was graduated from Officers Candidate School, Quantico, Va. He served as the Commander of the Recon Company for the First Marine Division and saw action at New Britain, Peleliu and Okinawa; and was in the occupational forces in China. He was awarded the US Navy Commendation with the Valor Device, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He returned to active duty during the Korean Conflict.
Following his military service he settled in Fayetteville as a representative for R.S. Dickson and Co. and then as a manager for Courts and Co. He was the founder of Powell and Co., later to become Powell, Kistler and Co. He was instrumental in raising capital, both public and private, for many companies in the Carolinas and Virginia. He served as Senior Partner of R.S. Dickson, Powell, Kistler and Crawford; and later The Powell Group, in Charlotte. He purchased Moore Oil Company and transformed the company from a small oil jobber to an international provider of custom blended industrial lubricants. He retired from the operations of that company and moved to Washington, N.C. in 1988.
He was active in the Episcopal Church, holding leadership positions at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville and in the Diocese of East Carolina. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Washington and served as an elder there. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who loved his family.
He was a forceful and active man and avid sportsman. He was a member and hunted at the North State Game Club. He raced his sailboats from Long Island to Bermuda to Wilmington to Nassau. He was a past President of the Hatteras Marlin Club. He lived life to its fullest.
He was interested in and actively supported the Barium Springs Home for Children, Post Office Box 1, Barium Springs, NC 28010 and the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort County, 1089 North Bridge Street, Washington, NC 27889. Memorial contributions may be made to the above organizations.
Online condolences may be offered to the Powell family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Powell family.